The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-12-23
Christmas New Year.

val OF love, friendship and the annual
epoch when generosity and liberal Civ
ing constitute the blessed fashion. As
the holy light of the rising Christmas
star shines up over the horizon, it's
sacred influence is felt, unconsciously
perhaps, by every heart, and no soul is
so base and hardened as not 10 feel
whether the feeling is acknowledged
or not-thst now is the time of ''peace
on earth and good will towards men
- that these are the days when the
precepts OF HIM whose birthtime it is
-"Love thy peighbor as thysely"-
must find universal application. As
the breath of the dying year comes
thick and short, and the glazing eyes
l3ok reeretful'y into the past, we feel
like solacing his parting hours with
beautiful deeds and kindly giving. As
the face of the New Year appears at the
opening gate and he looks with doubt
over the world where he is to reign,
we have it not in our hearts to greet
the stranger with harsh bitterness and
meanness and sorrow, so We make his
coming merry and jocund with gay
festivities aud lavish deeds of love.
The celebration of Christmas is of
very ancient origin. 1t was inaugura.
ted by the early Christians immediate
ly after the commencement of the
Christian era 1t was then held ex-
clusively - religious festival in com.
memoration of the nativity of the
Saviour. 1t derives it's name from
Christi Mossd, the mass of Christ. 1t
was not celebrated on the same day by
all the primitive churches For two
or three centuries the Eastern Church
kept the feast on the 9Th If January,
while the Latin Church observed it on
the 25th of December. Pope Julius /,
who died A. ID. 352, has usually the
credit OF transferring the feast from
January 9th to December 25th. Some
authorities, however, give the credit to
Pope Telephorus. who died A. d. 1873
About A d. 527, it is known that
Dionysius Exigus Scythian monk,
fixed upon the 25th of December, in
the year OF Rome 753, when Lentulus
and Plso were CoIsuls, as the date of
the birth of our Lord, aud that is both
the day and the year which has been
followed as the date OF the Christian
era up to the present time. In the
middle ages the day was celebrated by
the gay, fantastic, dramatic spectacles
OF that period, ,th- scenery representing
al infant attended by the Virgin Mary,
St. Joseph, the wise men, and sur
rounded by cherubs, bulls heads, and
other grotesqup decorations, and the
custom of decking houses and churches
with evergreens IS derived from the
practices of the ancient Druids. Ivy,
mistletoe, holly, rosemary, bays and
laurel, are the favorite trimmings.
The custom of Chris' mas gifts has
its origin in the Roman Paganalia,
which was instituted by Servius Tulus
B. q. $50. On these festivals, celebra-
ted at the beginning of the year, an
altar was erected in every village, and
to the box placed upon it, every man,
woman and child was expected to con-
tribute coin.
St. Nichols is one of the most pop
ular saints of Europe, being evoked as
the patron of sailors, travellers, cap
tives, and as the special guardian of
unmarried girls and children. The
Ho landers call him Santa Claus. Our
juvenile friends are all acquainted with
his appearance, and the stock of toys
he invariably carries with him.
In New England the Puritans gave
no quarter to any church festivals, and
it is only within few years past that
there has been any general celebration
OF Christmas among their descendants.
In the Southern States all the hale aud
hearty old English customs were duly
observed from the frat settlement of
the country. Christmas in this State,
as well as in all places south, is a time
OF rejoicing and universal mirth and
festivity.
Christmas will no doubt be cele-
brated in our town by general sus-
pension of business, by the interchange
of gifts and tokens of persona! friend
ship and regard, by The appropriate
decorotior of our churches and the
holding of solemn divine service suits-
BILE to the occaslon. The day will evi
IDENTIFY pass away as heretofore in sn
agreeable and interesting manner, and
many heart will be made light and
Joyous by the receipt of some kind
token reminding it that it is not for
gotten.